Josh Donaldson named MVP of American League (and my heart)



I was waiting for the end of year awards to be announced before posting again. Just as an aside, that is really, really drawn out. I never noticed before the glacially slow pace of the announcements, but then again, I've never had that much interest in them because my team has so rarely had this many that were in the thick of it. I mean, Bautista has been in the discussion, as was Roy Halladay in his final few years with the Jays. But 2015 was genuinely magical and this reflects it.



Josh Donaldson is a most well-deserved MVP. He was an absolute joy to watch in just about every way possible. Mike Trout, still probably the best player in the league, gave it a good run for Donaldson's money in terms of numbers. But, to me, MVP is partly numbers and partly what that player's play brought to the team. Did the player elevate the team? And I think Donaldson did. Right from April, he made an impact. And baseball noticed his impact, leading the club to the first postseason berth in 22 years. Donaldson got 23 of 30 first place votes from the writers.

Also,

This much attention for MVP, as well as Price's second place finish for Cy Young, indicates just what a juggernaut the Jays were this season.



I'm a member of the Internet Baseball Writer's Association of America (IBWAA), so I got a vote in their year end awards. I spent time thinking about them and looked at numbers, both traditional (batting avg. and ERA) and newer (WAR, OPS+ etc). If the numbers were close, I thought about the team they were on and how their teams did. And I freely admit there was some bias. The different ways of looking at the MVP is evident in the choice of Donaldson and Harper.

Donaldson had numbers rivaling the runner up, Mike Trout, but was part of a team that stormed in to win the AL East. He had the edge because of where his team ended up.

Harper was by far the best player in the NL (and all of baseball) in 2015. But his team was a dysfunctional shit show, perhaps best exemplified when Harper was choked by mid season acquisition Jonathan Papelbon in the dugout. Harper had numbers no one could deny and won despite his team.


Feel free to argue with my votes, but I think I stand by them.

Here is how I voted:

AL MVP: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

NL MVP: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

AL Cy Young: David Price, Toronto Blue Jays

NL Cy Young: Zack Greinke, LA Dodgers

AL Rookie: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

NL Rookie: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

AL Manager: Jeff Banister, Texas Rangers

NL Manager: Joe Maddon, Chicago Cubs

AL Rollie Fingers Relief Pitcher: Andrew Miller, New York Yankees

NL Hoyt Wilhelm Relief Pitcher: Jeurys Familia, New York Mets


Here is how IBWAA voted:

AL MVP: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays (I had Mike Trout 2nd, Prince Fielder 3rd)

NL MVP: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals (I had Joey Votto 2nd, Jason Heyward 3rd)

AL Cy Young: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros ( I had him 2nd, Sonny Gray 3rd.)

NL Cy Young: Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs (I had him 2nd, Clayton Kershaw 3rd)

AL Rookie: Carlos Correa, Houston Astros (I had him 2nd)

NL Rookie: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

AL Manager: Jeff Banister, Texas Rangers

NL Manager: Joe Maddon, Chicago Cubs

AL Rollie Fingers Relief Pitcher: Andrew Miller, New York Yankees

NL Hoyt Wilhelm Relief Pitcher: Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates (I didn't vote for him.)



And how the BBWAA voted (or the actual people who decide)


AL MVP: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

NL MVP: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

AL Cy Young: Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

NL Cy Young: Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

AL Rookie: Carlos Correa, Houston Astros

NL Rookie: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

AL Manager: Jeff Banister, Texas Rangers

NL Manager: Joe Maddon, Chicago Cubs

I don't know how to explain the consistency, except that maybe the online writers and the mainstream writers are all falling in line and looking at the same things. It's a far cry from the Mike Trout vs. Miguel Cabrera MVP vote of 2012. There was a clear divide there.



Some reaction:

Mr. Cathal Kelly with how unlikely it seemed for Josh Donaldson to get to this point. Mostly because he was a kid with a dad in prison. And also kind of a dick. 

Here is Arden Zwelling on Donaldson in the Clubhouse (featuring Cap n' Crunch) 

And more Zwelling on Donaldson.

Shut up, Ken Rosenthal.

Also, Josh Donaldson in GIFs. Which, besides maybe in person, the best way to experience Josh Donaldson. Homers, slides, defense, swagger and hugs. 

Also, Josh's reaction. He's at a loss for words and pretty emotional.